At Comfort Life, we’ve been excited about the Village ever since it was first announced in 2017. In Canada, it’s the best innovation yet, in design for memory care. The Village is built from the ground up with the needs of Alzheimer’s and dementia sufferers top of mind. We love how this both implements and adds to innovations in memory care.
Prominent effects of Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia are memory loss, disorientation and elopement, so the best environment for sufferers is one that mitigates these issues safely and effectively, yet non-intrusively. We see this ideally manifest in the Village in Langley, a setting that’s familiar and friendly, while smartly incorporating needed safety features. These include a fence around the perimeter and a blu-tooth-enabled security system that lets community staff know the whereabouts of any resident in real time, at any time. An important aspect of design for memory care is de-institutionalization and de-clinicalization of the care environment, inherent in the village layout that includes a general store, doctor’s office, hair salon, workshop, and more.
People live in colourful cottages here, attended by staff who are also suitably expert in their training and approach. The Village’s staff to resident ratio of 1:1 exceeds standards and is unheard of elsewhere in the industry. On top of all the above, it’s set in a quiet neighbourhood in one of the most beautiful cities in the country. We’ve certainly never seen anything like it before.
My aunt was lucky to become one of the first residents here, and I have visited often. This is a truly groundbreaking facility and the staff are as patient and friendly as you'd hope for. I have noted the postings by others who are upset by the cost of living at The Village; asking "who can afford to live here?" and suggesting it is only for the elite. While I could not afford to live here, that is due to my particular circumstances and life choices. My aunt can afford to live here for many—L.G., family member
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Google review and story
My aunt was lucky to become one of the first residents here, and I have visited often. This is a truly groundbreaking facility and the staff are as patient and friendly as you'd hope for. I have noted the postings by others who are upset by the cost of living at The Village; asking "who can afford to live here?" and suggesting it is only for the elite.—L.G., family member
While I could not afford to live here, that is due to my particular circumstances and life choices. My aunt can afford to live here for many years to come, but I want to share her story and show others that living like this is not reserved just for the wealthy.
Auntie M. and her family were sent to live in a BC internment camp during the war, when she was just a young girl. She left, barely into her teens; left her family and left school to return to the Lower Mainland to toil as a housekeeper for a wealthy family. She made this sacrifice to send money back to her parents and siblings. Later, after the war ended and everyone moved back to the Lower Mainland, Auntie M. found work in the Steveston cannery. She never completed her schooling; having to still help her parents and siblings and with little education, working in the cannery was what she could do. But, she was wise with her money, saved up, and bought a house. This house and her very dedicated savings are what allows her to enjoy life in the wonderful The Village now and for years to come. I am so happy that this amazing woman, who did hard physical work her whole life, sacrificed her youth and her education, is thriving at The Village due to her own self taught money management efforts. So to those who are affronted and snidely suggest that a community like The Village is an elitist utopian ideal, I suggest otherwise. Yes, it is costly but it is worth every penny for the high quality of care, the beautiful atmosphere and the priceless dignity with which residents are permitted to live. I couldn't recommend it enough!
We couldn't be more happy with the level of specialized dementia care and understanding provided by all the staff at the Village.—Scott Ronalds, family member
The project was led by Elroy Jespersen, based on a pioneering model in Hogewey, the Netherlands.
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